Control system



Sept. 7, 1943.

M. E. REAGAN CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 17 1942 INVENTOR Z: fieaga/z,

ATTOR Y Mal/ride Patented Sept. 7, 1943' CONTROL SYSTEM Maurice E. Reagan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 17, 1942, Serial No. 439,319

9 Claims. (Cl. 175-363) .The present invention relates, generally, to control systems and, more particularly, to systems for initiating and controlling the sequence of operations for placing rectifiers in service.

In the operation of arc rectifiers, for example, it sometimes happens that the main alternating current circuit breaker or the main direct current circuit breaker associated with the rectifier fails to latch closed when the rectifier is being placed into operation thus necessitating that the sequence of operations for placing the rectifier into service be repeated. It is common practice to deenergize and restart a rectifier in the event of arc-back in the rectifier.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control system for are rectifiers, and the like, which shall function to automatically restart the sequence of operations for placing the rectifier into operation in the event that either the main direct current circuit breaker or the main alternating current circuit breaker associated with the rectifier fails to stay in closed position and/or in the event that an arc-back occurs in the rectifier, and which shall function to repeat such restarting operations a predetermined number of times in the event that there is a repeated failure of the breaker or breakers to stay closed or in the event that there are repeated arc-backs.

These and other objects and advantages oi the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which comprises a diagrammatic representation of a control system for an arc rectifier embodying the principal features of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, an arc rectifier comprising rectifier units 6 and 8 is connected to be energized from an alternating current power source, which is represented by conductors l and I2, through a transformer l4 and a main alternating current circuit breaker 52. A load circuit comprising conductor l6 and I8 is disposed to be energized by the rectifier unit on its direct current side, the load'circuit conductor It being connected to the rectifier through a main direct current circuit breaker I2 and a conductor 20. v

A firing circuit 22 is disposed to be energized by the closure of the circuit breaker 52 to properly energize the make-alive electrodes 24 and 26. This firing circuit may be any circuit commonly used for the purpose such as the firing circuit described in the copending application of W. E.

Pakala and H. C. Myers, Serial No. 404,888, entitled Ignitron firing circuit," filed July 81, 1941, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

An automatic reclosing device 18, a master relay 4, a release relay 94, a reverse power relay 30, and

' a potential responsive relay 80 in cooperation with auxiliary relays 52X, 52Y, 12K and MY control the opening and closing of the circuit breakers 52 and 12.

The detailed elements of the control system and their cooperative relationships and functioning may best be understood by reference to the several cooperative elements of the system in a detailed description of the operation "of the system which follows.

When it is desired to place the rectifier into operation the master relay 4 may be energized by manually actuating the left-hand contact element 28 of a toggle switch 32 to complete a circuit extending from one terminal of a transformer 34 through conductors 36 and 38, a current limiting resistor 40, a conductor 42, the winding of the relay 4, conductors 44, 4B and 48, the contact element 28 and conductors 50, 54 and 56 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. When the relay 4 is actuated a circuit will be closed for the relay 5!!! extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and 58, a contact element 60 of the relay 4, conductors 62 and 84, the winding of the relay 52X, a conductor 68, a back contact element 68 of the relay Y and conductors II, II, I4, 16 and 56 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. The actuation of the relay 522 will close an energizing circuit for the closing coil of the circuit breaker 52 extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through conductors 36 and 18, the winding of the closing coil of the circuit breaker 52, a conductor 82, a contact element 84 of the relay MK and the conductors ll, I4, 16 and 58 to the other terminal of the transformer 34.

The circuit breaker 52 will thus be closed and latched in closed position by the latch trip device MT. The closure of the circuit breaker 52 will complete an energizing circuit for the relay MY extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors l6 and 58, the contact element 60, the conductors 62, the winding of the relay MY, conductors 88 and 88, a contact element actuated by the circuit breaker I2 and conductors i4 and 68 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. The relay HY when actuated will open the energizing circuit for the relay 52X by moving the back contact element 68 to open circuit position and will close its own holding circuit which extends from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and 58, the contact element 60, the conductors 62, the winding of the relay 52Y, the conductors 86 and 88, a contact element 92 of the relay 52Y and the conductors I4, I6 and 56 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. The relay 523! will thus be held in actuated position so long as the master relay 4 is held in actuated position.

The closure of the circuit breaker 52 will cause the rectifier units 6 and 8 to be energized from the conductors I and I2 through the transformer I4 and will cause the firing circuit 22 to so energize the make-alive electrodes 24 and 26 as to start the arcs of the rectifier unit. When direct current appears on the conductors I6 and 20 the potential responsive relay 80 will be energized in a circuit extending from the conductor I6 through conductors 96 and 98, the winding of the relay 60 and a conductor I00 to the conductor 20.

When the relay 80 is actuated its contact element, I02 will close an energizing circuit for the relay 12X extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and 56, the contact element 60, the conductors 62 and 64, the contact element I02 of the relay 80, a conductor I04, the winding of the relay 12X, a conductor I06, a back contact element I06 02 the relay l2Y and conductors IIII, II2, I4, 16 and 56 to the other terminal of the transformer 34.

The actuation of the relay 12X will close an energizing circuit for the closing coil of the circuii; breaker 12 extending from one terminal 01 the transformer 34 through the conductor 35, the winding of the closing coil of the circuit breaker 12, a conductor II4, a contact element H6 0! the relay 12X and the conductors II2, I4, 16 and 56 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. When the circuit breaker I2 is thus closed it will be held in closed position by the latch trip device 121 to thereby supply direct current power to the direct current conductors I6 and I6.

The closure of the circuit breaker 12 will close an energizing circuit for the relay I2Y extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through conductors 36 and 58, the contact element 66, the conductors 62, 64 and Ill, the winding of the relay I2Y, conductors H8 and H3, 9, contact element I20 actuated by the circuit breaker I2 and conductor 56 to the other terminal or the transformer 34.

The relay I2Y when actuated will open the energizing circuit for the relay 12X by moving its back contact element I66 to open circuit position and will close its own holding circuit extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and 56, the contact element 60, the conductors 62, 64 and Ill, the winding of the relay I2Y, the conductors H8 and H3, a contact element I22 of the relay I2Y and the conductors I4, I6 and 56 to the other terminal or the tran- Iormer 34.

The relay 30 is connected to respond to arcback or reverse current through the rectifier units 6 and 8 and when such an arc-back occurs the relay 30 will close an energizing circuit for the relay 94 extending from one terminal or the transformer 34 through conductors 36 and I24, a small rectifier unit I26, a conductor I26, 8. contact element I30 actuated by the relay 30, conductors I32, I34 and I36, the winding of the relay 94 and conductors I36 and 56 to the other terminal of the transformer 34.

This energizing circuit for the relay 34 may also be energized by the relay I2Y in actuated position and circuit breaker I2 in open position by a circuit which extends from the conductor I23 through conductors I40 and I42, a back contact element I44 actuated by the circuit breaker 12 in open circuit position, a conductor I46, a contact element I46 0! the relay I2Y in actuated position and conductors I50 and I52 to the conductor I32. Similarly the conductors I26 and I32 may be bridged to energize the relay 64 by a circuit extending from the conductor I26 through the conductors I40 and I42, 9. contact element I54 actuated by the circuit breaker 52 in open circuit position, a conductor I66, a contact element I53 0! the relay 52Y in actuated position and the conductors I50 and I52 to the conductor I32. Thus the relay 34 may be energized either by the relay 30 in response to arc-back or reverse current in the rectiilers 6 and 6 or the failure of either the circuit breaker 12 or 52 to properly latch when closed.

When the relay 94 is energized it will close its holding circuit extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and I24, the rectifier unit I26, a current limiting resistor I60, a contact element I64 01 the relay 04 the conductor I36, the winding of the relay 64, and the conductors I38 and 56 to the other terminal oi the transformer 34. A contact element I64 01 the relay 94 will close a shunting circuit for the winding oi! the master relay 4 extending from one terminal of the winding of the relay 4 through the conductor 42, the contact element I64 of the relay 34 and the conductors 46 and 44 to the other terminal of the winding 01 the re- The shunting of the winding of the relay 4 will cause it to be released and its back contact element I66 will close an energizing circuit for the trip device 52T of the circuit breaker 52 extending from positive potential of any suitable source 0! direct current control power indicated by the plus sign through the contact element I66, conductors I66 and Ill, the winding of the trip device 52T, a conductor I14 and a contact element I16 01 the circuit breaker 52 to negative potential. A similar energizing circuit for the trip device 'I2T of the circuit breaker I2 will be completed extending from positive potential through the contact element I66, the conductor I63, the winding of the trip device I2T, a conductor I'll and a contact element I66 of the circuit breaker 12 to negative potential. When the trip devices HT and "T are thus actuated the circuit breakers 52 and I2 will be opened. The release of the master relay 4 will cause its contact element 66 to move to open position to break the holding circuit for the relays 52Y and 12!! thus releasing these relays.

The energization of the relay 34 will close an energizing circuit for the drum actuating motor M of the automatic reclosing device I! extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and 36, a contact element I62 02 the rela 94, a conductor I64, the drum contact element I of the reclosing device I3, a conductor I86, the drum motor M and conductors I 66 and 56 to the other terminal of the trans former 34, and the contact drum of the reclosing device I3 will be driven by the motor M in the direction indicated by the arrow.

After a time interval the motor M will have moved the contact drum to a position where the moving contact element 3a will engage its associated fixed contact elements to close an energizing circuit for a relay 19X extending from one terminalof the transformer 34 through the conductors 38 and 38, the contact element I82, the

conductor I84, a conductor I88, the contact element 3a, a conductor I94, a back contact element I88 of the relay I9Y, conductors I88 and I99, the

winding of the relay 19x and conductors 288, 84 and 88 to the other terminal of the transformer 34.

The relay 19X will close its own holding circuit extending from one terminal of the transformer 3 through the conductors 36 and 38, the contact element I82, the conductors I84 and I88, a conductor 282, a contact element 284 of the relay 19X, the conductors I98 and I39, the winding of the relay 19X and the conductors 208, 54 and 58 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. The relay 19X will also close an energizing circuit for the relay I9Y extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 38 an 38, the contact element I82, the conductors I84 and I98, a conductor 288, a contact element 288 of the relay 'I9Y, and the conductors 54 and 58 to the other terminal of the transformer 34.

The actualion of the relay 'I9Y will move the contact element I98 to open circuit position and will close a shunt circuit for the winding of the relay 94 extendin from one terminal of the winding of the relay 94, through the conductors I38, 58 and I88, a conductor 2 I2, a contact element 2 I 4 of the relay 'I9Y and the conductors I34 and I38 to the other terminal of the winding of the relay 94.

The release of the relay 94 will cause its contact element I84 to move to open circuit position to thus open the shunting circuit for the winding of the master relay 4 and will move the contact element of the relay 94 to open circuit position to thus open the energizing circuit for the drum motor M of the automatic recloser IS, the movement of the contact element I82 of the relay 94 to open circuit position and also opening the holding circuit of the relay 19X and the energizing circuit of the relay I9Y hereinbefore described.

When the relay 1932" was actuated a detent 2? connected to the relay I9Y was moved upward I beyond a stop member 2I8 to permit the stop member 2I8 to be moved to the left by a spring member 228. Upon release of the relay 'I9Y the detent 2 I8 will engage the top portion of the stop member 2I8 after the rela 'I9Y has released sufficiently to move the contact element 2 to open circuit position but before the back contact element I88 has moved to closed circuit position.

The actuation of the master relay 4 will cause it to start the sequence hereinbefore described of closing the circuit breaker 82 which in turn will energize the rectifier elements 8 and 8 and strike their arcs which in turn will close the circuit breaker I2. If the circuit breakers 52 and 12 should stay in closed circuit position when thus reclosed, the circuit breaker I2 will close an energizing circuit for the drum actuating motor M extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductor 38, a conductor 222, the contact element 224 actuated by the circuit breaker I2, a conductor 228, a contact element 2 of the contact drum of the reclosing device I3, a conductor 228, the conductor I88, the motor M and the conductor I88 and 88 to the other terminal of the transformer 34.

When the drum has been rotated to a position where the lower one of the fixed contact elements, which are associated with the contact element In, has disengaged the contact element 30 a cam member 230 will be engaged by a cam member 4a which is movable with the contact drum to actuate the stop member 2I8 to the position shown in the drawing to thus permit the further and complete release of the relay "Y to permit closure 0). the back contact element I88. The contact drum will continue to rotate until it reaches the position shown in the drawing at which time the lower contact element associated with the drum contact element 2 will disengage the contact element 2 to break the energizing circuit for the motor M and cause the motor M to stop in the position shown in the drawing.

In the event that either the circuit breaker 52 or the circuit breaker 12 should fail to latch on being reclosed after the first time interval as described hereinbefore, or in the event that another arc-back should occur upon the reclosure of circuit breaker 12, the relay 94 will again be energized as explained hereinbefore to again operate the drum actuating motor M to thereby cause the cam elements 238 and 4a to completely release the relay I9Y as hereinbefore described and to cause the circuit breakers 52 and I2 to be tripped by the shunting of the winding of the relay 4- by the contact element 84 of the relay 94. After the interval required for the drum to move its contact element 3b into engagement with its associated fixed contact elements the relays 19X and 19! will be actuated to release the relay 94 which in turn will actuate the relay 4 to again initiate the sequence of closure of the circuit breaker 52, restarting of the rectifier elements 8 and 8 and closure of the circuit breaker I2.

A third attempt to restart the rectifier system will be made in the event that the breakers 52 and I2 are again tripped by an immediate arcback or by failure of either of the breakers 82 and I2 to remain latched in the closed position, and if the relay 94 is again energized after this third attempt its contact element I94 will cause the drum actuating motor M to operate until the lower fixed contact element associated with the drum contactor I is disengaged by the drum contact I to thus break the motor circuit and stop the motor. The system will thus be locked out with the relay 94 held energized in its own holding circuit until such time as any apparatus 7 faults that might have caused the three consecutive releases of the system can be remedied.

After the faults have been remedied and it is desired to place the apparatus in operation again, the drum actuating motor M may be energized again by a manually controlled contact element 232 in a circuit extending from one terminal of of the transformer 34 through the conductor 38, a conductor 234, the contact element 232, conductors 238 and 248, the drum contact element 2, conductor 228 and I88, the drum actuating motor M and the conductors I88 and 58 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. When the drum has moved to the position shown in the drawing, this energizingcircuit for the drum actuating motor M will be broken by the disengagement of the drum contact element 2 from its associated fixed contact elements and the drum will be stopped in the restart position shown in the drawing ready to perform the function of making a plurality of attempts at restoring the system as hereinbefore described.

when it is desired to take the system out of service, for any reason, a manually actuable operator 238 of the toggle switch 32 may be actuated to move the contact element 28 to open circuit position to thus break the energizing circuit for the master relay 4 which in turn will trip the breakers 52 and 12 and release the relays 52! and MY as explained hereinbetore.

It sometime happens that an arc-back occurring on the rectifier units 6 and 8 will be of such magnitude and will draw such large current in the conductors I and I2 as to lower the potential applied to the winding of the relay 34 through the transformer 34 to a point where there will be insufiicient potential to operate this relay. To insure the positive tripping of the relay 94 in such an event, a condenser 240 is connected to be held continuously charged in a circuit extending from one terminal of the transformer 34 through the conductors 36 and #34, the rectifier units I26, the conductor I28, the conductor 240, a conductor 242 of the conductors I38 and 58 to the other terminal of the transformer 34. When the contact element I30 closes the energizing circuit for the relay 94, the condenser 240 will be discharged in this energizing circuit to thus provide an impulse of current sufiicient to positively actuate the relay 94.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a control system for an arc rectifier which shall function to automatically restart the sequence or operation for placing the rectifier into operation in the event that either the main direct current circuit breaker or the main alternating current circuit breaker associated with the rectifier fails to stay in closed position and/or in the event that an arc-back occurs in the rectifier, and which shall function to repeat such restarting operations a predetermined number of times in the event that there is a repeated failure of the breaker or breakers to stay closed or in the event that there are repeated arc-backs.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes, I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and described herein but is capable of modification by one skilled in the art, the embodiment shown herein being merely illustrative of the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a control system for rectifiers, a first circuit breaker for connecting a supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for connecting a load circuit to the rectifier, means for closing the first breaker, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for initiating the operation of the rectifier, means responsive to the operation of the rectifier for closing the second breaker, relay means responsive to the failure of either of the breakers to stay closed upon being closed for opening the other of the breakers, and means responsive to the operation of said relay means for automatically actuating said first breaker closing means.

2, In a rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the power load on the rectifier, means for closing the first breaker, means responsive to the closure cf the first breaker ior starting the cperaticn of the rectifier, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for closing the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers, relay means for actuating said opening means, means responsive to the failure of either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed and to reverse current fiow in the rectifier for actuating said relay means, and means responsive to the actuation of said relay means for actuating the means for closing the first breaker.

3. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the power load on the rectifier, means for closing the first breaker, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier are, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for closing the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers, relay means for actuating said opening means, means responsive to the failure or either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed and to reverse current fiow in the rectifier for actuating said relay means, means responsive to the actuation of said relay means for actuating the means for closing the first breaker, and means for preventing further reclosure o! the first circuit breaker after a predetermined number of closures in the event that the breaker is opened after each reclosure.

4. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the power load on the rectifier, means for closing the first breaker, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier arc, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for closing the second breaker, relay means responsive to the failure of either of the breakers to stay closed upon being closed for opening the other of the breakers, means responsive to the said relay means for actuating said first breaker closing means, and means for preventing further reclosure of the first circuit breaker after a predetermined number of closures in the event that the breakers are opened after each reclosure.

5. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the power load on the rectifier, means for closing the first breaker, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier arc, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for closing the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers, relay means for actuating said opening means, means responsive to the failure of either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed and to reverse current fiow in the rectifier for actuating said relay means, means responsive to the actuation of said relay means for actuating the means for closing the first breaker, and means for preventing further reclosure of the first breaker for a predetermined time after each reclosure and for limiting the number of reclosures in the event that the breakers are opened after each reclosure.

6. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the power load on the rectifier, means for closing the first breaker, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier are, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for closing the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers,

a relay means for actuating said opening means, means responsive to the failure of either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed for actuating said relay means, and means responsive to the opening of the second breaker for releasing said relay means and actuating said closing means for the first breaker.

7. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the load circuit of the rectifier, means for closing each of the breakers comprising a first auxiliary relay for closing each of the breakers, a second auxiliary relay for each of the breakers actuable by the closure of its associated breaker, circuit means whereby the actuation of either of said second auxiliary relays deenergizes its associated first auxiliary relay, circuit means responsive to the closure of said breakers for energizing their associated second auxiliary relays, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier are, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for actuating the first auxiliary relay associated with the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers, and means responsive to either of said second auxiliary relays in actuated position and the failure of either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed for releasing said second auxiliary relays and actuating the opening means for each of the breakers.

8. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supply of power to the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the load circuit of the rectifier, means for closing each of the breakers comprising a first auxiliary relay for closing each of the breakers, a second auxiliary relay for each of the breakers actuable by the closure of its associated breaker, circuit means whereby-the actuation of either of said second auxiliary relays deenerglzes its associated first auxiliary relay, circuit means responsive to the closure of said breakers for energizing their associated second auxiliary relays, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier arc, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for actuating the first auxiliary relay associated with the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers, a release relay, means responsive to reverse current flow in the rectifier for energizing said release relay, means responsive to either of said second auxiliary relays in actuated position and the failure of either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed for energizing said release relay, and means responsive to the actuation of said release relay for releasing said second auxiliary relays and actuating the opening means for each of the breakers.

9. In an arc rectifier control system, a first circuit breaker for controlling the supp y of D t0 the rectifier, a second circuit breaker for controlling the load circuit of the rectifier, means for closing each of the breakers comprising a first auxiliary relay for closing each of the breakers, a second auxiliary relay for each of the breakers actuable by the closure of its associated breaker, circuit means whereby the actuation of either of said second auxiliary relays deenergizes its associated first auxiliary relay, circuit means responsive to the closure of said breakers for energizing their associated second auxiliary relays, means responsive to the closure of the first breaker for starting the rectifier arc, means responsive to the rectifying action of the rectifier for actuating the first auxiliary relay associated with the second breaker, opening means for each of the breakers, a release relay, means responsive to reverse current flow in the rectifier for energizing said release relay, means responsive to either of said second auxiliary relays in actuated position and the failure of either of said breakers to stay closed upon being closed for energizing said release relay, means responsive to the actuation of said release relay for releasing said second auxiliary relays and actuating the opening means 

